Theme park’s new pitch

DREAMWORLD will embark on its biggest spending spree in years in a bid to win back the hearts and minds of visitors.

Still trying to rebuild after the Thunder River Rapids tragedy that claimed four lives last year, Dreamworld will today unveil plans for a stateof-the-art simulator ride.

The new chairman of parent company Ardent Leisure has also mooted investment across the park.

Ardent chairman Gary Weiss said he was confident Dreamworld could return to its former glory, and aimed to attract more visitors with new attractions.

“We believe reinvestment into Dreamworld will result in a material increase in earnings over time,” he said.

“The sale of Dreamworld is not part of our plans for the future.”

Mr Weiss has returned from a fact-finding mission overseas with Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson during which the park secured a new “flying theatre” simulator ride, the latest trend in theme parks across Asia and the US.

The 40-seat simulator will be housed in the park’s old IMAX theatre, with passengers taking a virtual journey across Australia, heaving, swaying, surging and rolling through the Aussie landscape.

The riders will experience special effects such as wind, sound, light, mist and scents as they soar through the air.

Mr Weiss also mooted a new “dark” attraction on the site of the long-closed mine ride, new attractions for young children and significant expansion at sister park White-Water World.